Laboratory Testing

Building a Roadmap to Health and Wellness


Laboratory testing is a critical part of any personalized integrative health program. Laboratory data provides objective information showing how the body is performing at any given point in time. It allows a physician to specifically target and address biochemical pathways and areas of cellular function that are not functioning optimally.

Dr. Ruthie Harper and her staff evaluate and assess the results of every laboratory test and determine what is optimal in order to create a personalized wellness plan specific to your needs. We are concerned with your individual well being and want to get you on the road to optimal health.

When reviewing a patient’s blood test results, there is usually only concern when there is a particular result outside of the “normal”. The problem with interpreting blood work in this way is that “normal” reference ranges tend to represent the average level of health among the general population instead of the optimal levels required to maintain your health.

Getting the body working efficiently and effectively as a whole is the key to achieving personalized optimal health. When combined with an experienced practitioner, laboratory testing provides an invaluable resource to the patient.

The Importance of Blood Work

Too often, people fall victim to an easily preventable disease that could have been dealt with by getting regular blood tests. This is why regular blood testing is an important part of maintaining optimal health.

In the past, blood testing was used mainly to determine if the patient was at risk for cardiovascular risk. However, blood tests can detect a high number of medical abnormalities that are often easy to fix if caught with plenty of time. For example, calcium overload which is caused when too much calcium is consumed leading to the bones receiving too much. Unless pinpointed by a blood test, this can lead to crippling bone fractures, kidney stones, or even heart valve failure.

We recommend that you get a basic assortment of tests annually, including blood work.

Female and Male Test Panels

The Male and Female Testing Panels are a terrific place to begin to proactively take charge of your health. They are made up of our most requested tests, which are capable of identifying many common and not so common conditions. It also allows for identification of risk factors for future disease and offers a clinical snapshot of your current physiologic well-being.

Our Male Panel consists of complete blood count (CBC), chemistry tests, ferritin, insulin, lipids, Free T3 and TSH, homocysteine, total and free testosterone, estradiol, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and DHEA.

Our Female Panel consists of a complete blood count (CBC), chemistry test ferritin, insulin, lipids, Free T3 and TSH, homocysteine, total and free testosterone, DHEA, and homocysteine.

If serious abnormalities are detected such as elevated homocysteine, hormone imbalance, or high PSA, more frequent testing might be needed.

Hormonal and Cardiovascular Testing

Researchers at Rockefeller University have found that the body metabolizes estrogens into several different metabolites that can impact cancer development. Two metabolites – 2-hydroxyestrone and 16-ahydroxyestrone – provide a better indication of the potential risk for future development of estrogen-sensitive cancers.

Now available, our EstronexTM 2/16 test measures the ratio of these two metabolites from a single urine sample. Ratios that are less than 2.0 indicate a long-term risk for breast, cervical and other estrogensensitive cancers. By identifying this ratio we can properly address the long term risk and provide better overall health with treatment.

Interested in laboratory testing?

Call Ruthie Harper, MD today at (512) 343-9355 for your laboratory testing!

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